Systems, methods, and apparatus for providing indoor navigation

ABSTRACT

An indoor navigational system determines a location of a moveable object in an indoor area and displays this location to a user. The system includes one or more dead-reckoning sensors, one or more absolute position sensors, and a processor. The processor determines the location of the moveable object based on signals received from the sensors. The system also includes a display device to display the location of the moveable object in a graphical representation of the indoor area based on messages from the processor indicating the location of the moveable object.

BACKGROUND

Various known navigation and positioning systems enable people in cars, boats, aircraft, and other moveable objects to efficiently travel between given locations. Knowing a precise current geographic location or starting location and a desired destination or ending location enables navigation systems to provide customized directions that indicate which direction that moveable object should travel to reach the destination or ending location. Various known navigation systems use path-planning algorithms that combine knowledge of conduits (such as streets, bridges, or traffic rules), obstacles (such as freeway congestion), and current real-time positioning information to determine and output detailed directions.

Various known navigation systems are enhanced through graphical user interfaces that visually depict the surroundings of a current position, identify points of interest, and provide a highlight of a path of travel to reach a destination. In one known example, vehicular navigation systems use the Global Positioning System (widely known as GPS). GPS is a space-based global navigation satellite system (GNSS) that provides reliable location and time information to anyone on or near the Earth.

One known limitation of existing navigations systems that employ GPS is that they typically need an unobstructed line of sight to multiple (such as four or more) GPS satellites to receive and calculate a geographic position of an object. For this reason, GPS typically does not effectively operate in indoor areas or spaces such as in buildings or other covered structures. Thus, while GPS has become a valued system for outdoor navigation, GPS is generally unsuited for indoor navigation.

Various existing indoor navigation systems use radio or sound waves to determine a current position of a moveable object in an indoor area. One known indoor navigation system determines a location using Received Signal Strength Indicator (“RSSI”) values of multiple Wi-Fi beacons (i.e., IEEE 802.11 access points or radios). This system is configured to use location fingerprinting, which stores samples of RSSI values of received Wi-Fi signals transmitted by a number of locations in a mapped area. In this location fingerprinting system, a processor computes a current location of a moveable object by sampling the RSSI values and performing a look-up within a database.

Another known indoor navigation system determines a location of a moveable object using triangulation of RSSI values of multiple Wi-Fi beacons. This system uses triangulation to compute expected signal strengths at a given location using signal propagation equations that estimate effects of known obstructions and multipath errors.

One known problem of using location fingerprinting or triangulation in indoor areas is that both of these methods are limited in accuracy to within a few meters, and tend to worsen with dynamic changes in signal obstructions resulting from human movement or physical obstructions including, for example, walls, shelves, signs, etc. Similar methods using Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (“NFC”) signals also experience the same challenges in indoor areas.

Since all of these indoor navigation systems have various known issues or problems, the overall need for indoor navigation systems remains an issue largely unaddressed by currently known commercially available navigation systems. Accordingly, a need exists for better indoor navigation systems.

SUMMARY

Various embodiments of the present disclosure solve the above problems by providing a precise and accurate indoor navigation system that combines dead-reckoning with absolute position detection. The navigation system simultaneously or sequentially uses a combination of dead-reckoning signals and absolute positioning signals to determine a specific location, orientation, and movement of a moveable object within an indoor area or space. Generally, the indoor navigation system includes one or more processors that are configured to receive communications from, communicate with, or are communicatively coupled to: (a) one or more dead-reckoning sensors, and (b) one or more absolute positioning systems. The absolute positioning system includes components attached to or in proximity to a moveable object. The processors are also configured to communicate with a user device (including in various embodiments a display device and an input device) which are part of or function in conjunction with the indoor navigation system. The display device displays a location of a moveable object in relation to an indoor area and the input device enables a user to interact with the displayed location.

More specifically, the indoor system of the present disclosure uses an absolute position system to determine a reference location (such as a starting point) of a moveable object in an indoor area. In certain embodiments, the absolute position system includes proximity sensors positioned within the indoor area that detect the moveable object when the movable object is relatively nearby those sensors. After detecting a presence of the moveable object in the indoor area, the proximity sensors transmit an absolute positioning signal to the processor(s) of the indoor navigation system. The processor(s) uses this information to determine at a point in time a fixed location of the moveable object in the indoor area based on which proximity sensors transmitted the signal at that point in time.

The indoor navigation system of the present disclosure further uses dead-reckoning sensors to detect movement of the moveable object in the indoor area when the object moves between sensors of the absolute position system. The dead-reckoning sensors are generally located on or attached to the moveable object to detect movement and orientation of the moveable object. The processor(s) of the indoor navigation system receive this movement information from the dead-reckoning sensors and based on this information determine how much and in which direction the moveable object has moved at a point in time from a previously detected reference location. The indoor navigation continues to use dead-reckoning movement information until the moveable object moves into a detection range of one or more other proximity sensors of the absolute position system. In this manner, the indoor navigation system oscillates between the use of absolute positioning signals and dead-reckoning signals such that the dead-reckoning signals are used to determine a location of the moveable object when absolute positioning signals are unavailable.

In various embodiments, the dead-reckoning signals are generated by one or more rotary encoder(s) attached to wheel(s) of the moveable object. Each rotary encoder detects direction and magnitude of a rotation of the wheel to which encoder is attached. In certain embodiments, the indoor navigation system uses dead-reckoning signals generated by two rotary encoders on the moveable object to determine orientation of the object based on differences in rotations between the wheels. In various other embodiments, the dead-reckoning signals are generated by other sensors such as, but not limited to, inertial sensors, accelerometers, and magnetometers.

The present disclosure provides various different embodiments of absolute position systems. These different absolute position systems may each be used alone or in various combinations with each other. It should be appreciated that the indoor navigation system described herein can also or alternatively use additional types of absolute position systems.

Additionally, the present disclosure primarily describes the indoor navigation system in conjunction with a single moveable object. It should be appreciated that the indoor navigation system can be, and will likely be configured to be used to determine locations of multiple moveable objects in the indoor area (such as multiple grocery carts in a grocery store).

In one of these embodiments, the absolute position system includes Radio Frequency Identifier (“RFID”) detector(s) located on the moveable object and RFID tags embedded throughout the indoor area. The RFID detectors sense when the moveable object passes in proximity to one or more of the RFID tags. Each RFID tag is assigned a unique identifier, which is read by the RFID detector on the moveable object. In this embodiment, the RFID detector transmits the unique identifier of the RFID tag to a processor as an absolute positioning signal. The processor determines a location on a map corresponding to the identifier to identify a current location of the moveable object at a point in time.

In another of these embodiments, the absolute position system includes an RFID detector attached to the moveable object and RFID transmitters located throughout the indoor area. The RFID detector detects RFID beacons emitted from the RFID transmitters. In this embodiment, each RFID transmitter transmits an identifier though a unique RFID beacon. The RFID detector on the moveable object receives the RFID beacons, determines corresponding identifiers, and transmits the identifiers to a processor as an absolute positioning signal. In some examples, the RFID detector may also determine signal strength for each RFID beacon. The processor uses the identifiers and corresponding signal strength in triangulation calculations to determine a current location of the moveable object at a point in time.

In another of these embodiments, the absolute position system includes a light sensor attached to the moveable object and laser light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) positioned throughout the indoor area. The light sensor detects timed light pulses from the LEDs when the moveable object travels in proximity to the LEDs. In this embodiment, each LED transmits an identifier by pulsing light at different time intervals. The light sensor on the moveable object transmits the detected identifier to the processor of the indoor navigation system as an absolute position signal.

In another of these embodiments, the absolute position system includes an LED or other light source attached to the moveable object and cameras positioned within the indoor area. The light source on the moveable object pulses a uniquely timed pattern of light corresponding to an identifier. In this embodiment, the cameras detect the emitted light and send video images to a processor. The processor processes a sequence of the video images to determine a position of the light within each received video image and an identifier associated with the pulsed pattern. The processor uses this information as an absolute positioning signal to then determine a current location of the moveable object at a point in time.

The indoor navigation system of the present disclosure can be employed in multiple different manners and for multiple different purposes. In one embodiment, the indoor navigation system uses location information of a moveable object to provide displayable directions to products or items of interest in an indoor area. In another embodiment, the indoor navigation system uses a location of a moveable object to provide displayable information regarding products or items of interest in proximity to the moveable object. In another embodiment, the indoor navigation system uses a location of a moveable object to enable a user to search for a location of a product or item of interest in an indoor area. It should thus be appreciated from the above and the following that the indoor navigation system can use location information of a moveable object in these and various other applications.

In an example implementation of the indoor navigation system disclosed herein, a grocery cart in a grocery store is the moveable object with dead-reckoning rotary encoders attached to rear wheels. The rotary encoders are included within a position sensing apparatus that also includes a light sensor. The light sensor is part of an absolute position system, which also includes infrared laser LEDs positioned adjacent to or near floor level throughout the grocery store. A user device including a display device and a touchscreen input device are attached to or used in conjunction with the grocery cart. The navigation system causes the display device to display a pictorial or graphical map of the indoor area which in this example is a grocery store. In this example, one, multiple, or all of the grocery carts in the grocery store may be so equipped.

When a consumer selects the grocery cart in the grocery store or a designated area in the grocery store, the indoor navigation system is alerted to the movement of the cart via the rotary encoders. Upon the grocery cart passing in proximity to an LED, the light sensor on the cart detects the light and an identifier coded within the light. The identifier corresponds to the particular LED transmitting the light. The light sensor transmits an absolute positioning signal including the identifier to a processor, which then determines which location is associated with the detected identifier. The processor transmits a message indicative of this reference location to the user device to display to a user where the grocery cart is located within the grocery store.

After the user moves the grocery cart from the detected reference location, the rotary encoders send dead-reckoning signals to the processor indicating a change in one or both of distance and direction. The processor applies the detected travel to the reference location to determine how far and in which direction the cart has traveled. The processor then sends one or more messages indicative of this new location to the user device and thus the display device, which then displays the new location of the grocery cart in relation to a map of the store. In this manner, the indoor navigation system accurately displays to a user the current location of the grocery cart in the grocery store.

The user may use the input device of the user device for different navigation applications. For example, the user may enter a grocery list. The processor receives the grocery list, determines locations of the groceries in the store, and calculates a desired route through the store to each of the groceries. In one embodiment, the desired route may be a shortest route to each of the groceries. In another embodiment, the desired route may be specified by an operator of the indoor area or a manufacturer of certain products such that the route causes the user to pass in proximity to the products. For example, a food producer may specify that the route is to pass in proximity to a new beverage. In another embodiment, the desired route may include special sale items specified by the operator of the indoor area or a product manufacturer. While the user is moving through the store, the processor uses the current location of the cart to cause the user device to display advertisements or coupons that are in proximity to the user. The processor may also show product packaging of a nearby product to help the user locate the product on the grocery shelves.

While the following detailed disclosure uses a grocery store as an example embodiment, it should be appreciated that the grocery store is just an example environment and that other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent, taken in conjunction with the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a functional schematic diagram of an indoor navigation system of one example embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1A is a functional schematic diagram of the indoor navigation system of another embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are flowcharts representative of example machine-accessible instructions, which may be executed to determine a location of a moveable object using the indoor navigation system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example moveable object in the form of a grocery cart including dead-reckoning sensors and absolute position sensors that sense LED emitters for absolute positioning in an indoor store.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrammatic views showing the absolute position system of FIG. 3 operating in conjunction with dead-reckoning sensors.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the absolute position system of FIG. 3 determining an orientation of a moveable object.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the moveable object of FIG. 3 that uses RFID tags for absolute positioning in an indoor area.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the example moveable object of FIG. 3 with an infrared light pulse emitter that uses one or more camera(s) to detect the light pulses in an indoor area.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a position sensing apparatus attachable to a moveable object including a rotary encoder and an absolute position sensor.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of the rotary encoder of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of circuitry components of the position sensing apparatus of FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a state diagram of different power states of the position sensing apparatus of FIGS. 8 to 10.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view showing the position sensing apparatus of FIGS. 8 to 10 being charged in an induction power charging track.

FIG. 13 are perspective views of a user device including a display device and an input device configured to display a current location of the moveable object of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are schematic diagrams of example functions performed by or provided by the user device including the display device and the input device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a functional schematic diagram of various example functions that can be performed by or provided by the user device including the display device and the input device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an example menu of operations capable of being performed by pr provided by the user device including the display device and the input device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a functional schematic diagram of information that is used in conjunction with a current location of a moveable object and displayed via the display device of the user device of FIG. 13.

FIGS. 20, 21, and 22 are schematic diagrams of information that can be displayed via the display device of the user device based on a known location of the moveable object.

FIG. 23 is a schematic diagram showing a determination of a navigational route through an indoor area based on a known location of the moveable object.

FIG. 24 is a schematic diagram of the navigational route of FIG. 23 displayed via the display device of the user device based on a known location of the moveable object.

FIGS. 25, 26, and 27 are flowcharts representative of example machine-accessible instructions, which may be executed to calculate routes through an indoor area displayable via the display device of the user device of FIG. 13.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart representative of example machine-accessible instructions, which may be executed to create a user profile and shopping list for use with the indoor navigation system of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to indoor navigation systems, method, and apparatus which employ absolute position systems and dead-reckoning sensors to provide navigation for moveable objects in indoor areas.

Turning now to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows a functional schematic diagram of one embodiment of an indoor navigation system 100 of the present disclosure that accurately and precisely determines a current location of a moveable object 102 in an indoor area (not shown in FIG. 1). The indoor area can be any suitable indoor area such as, but not limited to, a retail or wholesale store (such as a grocery store), a megastore, a shopping mall, a museum, a school, a hospital, an office building, a residential building, an indoor amusement park, and a storage warehouse.

For instance, in a hospital environment, the indoor navigation system 100 can be used for restocking or re-supplying medical items. In this embodiment, the moveable object 102 could include a cart with medical supplies. The indoor navigation system 100 displays to a user an indoor location where the supplies are needed (such as a supply closet for linens and bandages). The indoor navigation system 100 can also show a navigation route or turn-by-turn directions to areas of the hospital where supplies are needed (such as in a room of a patient). The indoor navigation system 100 can also track when the user removes medical items from the cart at a location and update the navigation route or directions.

In another embodiment, the indoor navigation system 100 could be used to guide users through a museum. In this embodiment, the indoor navigation system 100 displays a navigation route or turn-by-turn directions to different exhibits in a museum. The indoor navigation system 100 can also enable a user to search for a particular exhibit and display a navigation route or directions to reach the exhibit. The indoor navigation system 100 can also display more information about the exhibit when it detects the user is in proximity to an exhibit.

In this illustrated embodiment, the indoor navigation system 100 generally includes: (a) one or more dead-reckoning sensors 108 configured to detect movement of the moveable object 102 in the indoor area; (b) an absolute position system 116 configured to detect when the moveable object 102 moves in proximity to a known location in the indoor area; (c) one or more location processors 104 configured to determine a current location of the moveable object 102 at a point in time in the indoor area based on signals provided by the dead-reckoning sensors 108 and the absolute position system 116, and (d) a user device 106 including a display device 107 configured to show a current location of the moveable object 102 in reference to a pictorial or graphical representation of the indoor area.

The absolute position system 116 includes one or more absolute position sensors 110 and one or more absolute position transmitters 114. The absolute position sensor 110 detects when the moveable object 102 is in proximity to the absolute position transmitter 114 by sensing a signal transmitted by the transmitter 114. In FIG. 1, the absolute position sensor 110 is included or coupled to the moveable device 102 and the absolute position transmitter 114 is positioned within an indoor area.

FIG. 1A shows an absolute position system 116 including an absolute position transmitter 114 attached to or being included with the moveable object 102. In this embodiment, the absolute position sensors 110 are located throughout an indoor area and are separate from the moveable object 102. The sensors 110 detect or record light or signals emitted by each of the absolute position transmitters 114 attached to respective moveable objects 102. Each transmitter 114 transmits a light with a uniquely timed pattern that corresponds to an identifier of the transmitter 114 of the moveable object 102.

In an embodiment, the indoor navigation system 100 of FIG. 1 includes a dead-reckoning system and an RFID tag-based absolute position system 116. In this embodiment, the dead-reckoning system includes rotary encoder dead-reckoning sensors 108, the absolute position sensors 110 include RFID detectors, and the absolute position transmitters 114 include RFID tags.

In another embodiment, the indoor navigation system 100 of FIG. 1 includes a dead-reckoning system and an RFID transmitter-based absolute position system 116. In this embodiment, the dead-reckoning system includes rotary encoder dead-reckoning sensors 108, the absolute position sensors 110 include RFID detectors, and the absolute position transmitters 114 include RFID transmitters.

In another embodiment, the indoor navigation system 100 of FIG. 1 includes a dead-reckoning system and an infrared LED-based absolute position system 116. In this embodiment, the dead-reckoning system includes rotary encoder dead-reckoning sensors 108, the absolute position sensors 110 include light sensors, and the absolute position transmitters 114 include LEDs.

In another embodiment, the indoor navigation system 100 of FIG. 1A includes a dead-reckoning system and a camera-based absolute position system 116. In this embodiment, the dead-reckoning system includes rotary encoder dead-reckoning sensors 108, the absolute position sensors 110 include cameras located throughout an indoor area, and the absolute position transmitters 114 include one or more LEDs attached to moveable objects 102.

In some embodiments, the dead-reckoning system shown in FIGS. 1 and 1A can be used in conjunction with two or more different types of absolute position systems 116 described above.

Returning to FIG. 1, the user device 106 is attached to or includes an input device 112 that enables a user to interface or interact with information displayed by the display device 107. In various embodiments, the display device 107 and the input device 112 are one unit or one user device 106. In various embodiments, the user device 106 of present disclosure is a touchscreen mobile or tablet computer or computing device such as: (i) the APPLE I-PAD, (ii) the SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB, (iii) the BLACKBERRY PLAYBOOK, (iv) the HP TOUCHPAD, and (v) the MOTOROLA XOOM; however, it should be appreciated that other suitable user devices may be employed in accordance with the present disclosure. For example the user device 106 may be a smart phone or a personal digital assistant. It should thus be appreciated that the user device 106 may include one or more processors, one or more memory devices, one or more display devices, and one or more input devices, and will be able to communicate over one or more wired or wireless networks.

More specifically, it should be appreciated that: (a) the processor(s) of the user device 106 can be any suitable type of processor(s) such as but not limited to one or more microprocessor(s) from the INTEL® family of microprocessors; (b) the memory or data storage device(s) of the user device can be any suitable type of memory or data storage device such as storage devices which include volatile memory and non-volatile memory such as but not limited to: random access memory (RAM), non-volatile RAM (NVRAM), magnetic RAM (MRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, and/or EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read only memory), other suitable magnetic memory devices, any optical memory device, or any semiconductor based memory devices); (c) the memory or data storage device(s) can be configured in any suitable manner to store part or all of the program code and/or operating data for performing the functions described herein for the user device; (d) the user device may also include a hard drive, CD drive, DVD drive, and/or other storage devices suitably connected to the processor(s) of the user device; (e) the memory or data storage device(s) store one or more software programs or applications executable by the processor(s) to enable the user device 106 to perform the functions described herein; (f) the input device 112 of the user device 106 can be a touchscreen or any other suitable type of input device besides a touchscreen such as but not limited to: (i) a keyboard; (ii) a mouse; (iii) a track pad; (iv) a track ball; (v) a bar-code reader; (vi) a camera/charged-coupled device (“CCD”) sensor; and (vii) a voice recognizer; (g) the display device(s) of the user device can be any suitable type of display devices such as but not limited to a plasma display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a display based on light emitting diodes (LEDs), a display based on a plurality of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), a display based on polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs), a display based on a plurality of surface-conduction electron-emitters (SEDs), a display including a projected and/or reflected image; (h) the user device can include or be connectable wirelessly to one or more printers for printing any of the data displayed by the user device; and (i) the user device can include an audio output (such as for providing audio turn-by-turn directions).

In various embodiments, the user device 106 of the present disclosure will have one or more software applications (commonly referred to as “apps”) or computer programs of the system loaded on the user device 106 to provide the user interfaces and functionality of the system of the present disclosure and to facilitate communication between the user device 106 and the location processor 104 of the system of the present disclosure. It should be appreciated that such applications or programs can be loaded or downloaded on the user device in any suitable manner. It should also be appreciated that the present disclosure includes the software applications or software programs on one or more memory or data storage devices separate from the user device or on the user device.

Turing back to FIG. 1, in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the moveable object 102 includes any device capable of being tracked within an indoor area. For example, the moveable object 102 can be a shopping cart, a shopping basket, or any other apparatus that can be pushed or moved by a user. It should be appreciate that the user device 106 may be detachable or may not be detachable from the moveable object. In other words, the user device 106 may be integrated in the movable object 102 or may just be removably attachable to the moving object 102.

FIG. 1 generally shows that the user device 106 including the display device 107 and the input device 112 are attached to the moveable object 102. The display device 107 displays a current location of the moveable object 102 at a point in time within an indoor area based on message(s) received from the location processor 104. The display device 107 shows the current location at a point in time as a point in a graphical representation of the indoor area (such as a point or icon in a store layout). The display device 107 may also show a route or path through an indoor area and provide turn-by-turn directions to reach desired products or items of interest in the indoor area. It should be appreciated that all of this information can be displayed in many different suitable manners.

The example user device 106 of FIG. 1 is communicatively coupled to the input device 112, which enables a user to interact with the user device 106. The input device 112 can include keys, buttons, or a touchscreen as mentioned above. In an example, the input device 112 may include a keypad that enables a user to input a product (or item of interest) name to search for the product's location within an indoor area. In other examples, the input device 112 enables a user to interact with the graphical representation of an indoor area displayed by the display device. This interaction may include browsing a layout of the indoor area, entering a destination in the indoor area, or specifying a route through the indoor area. The input device 112 also may include ports to enable a user to enter a list of products or provide other information such as credit card payment or shopper club membership information. Further, the input device 112 may also include a scanner to scan product bar codes selected by a user.

The example dead-reckoning sensor 108 detects movement of the moveable object 102. In various embodiments, the dead-reckoning sensor 108 is coupled or attached to the moveable object 102 so that the dead-reckoning sensor 108 does not become dislodged or misplaced during use of the moveable object 102. In certain embodiments, the dead-reckoning sensor 108 is included within and/or integrated with the user device. While the moveable object 102 is shown with the single dead-reckoning sensor 108, it should be appreciated that in other embodiments, multiple dead-reckoning sensors are employed with the moveable object.

The dead-reckoning sensor 108 includes one or more sensors to sense movement of the moveable object 102. The sensors can include inertial sensors, magnetometers, accelerometers, velocity sensors, rotation sensors, rotary encoder sensors, or other suitable sensors. The dead-reckoning sensor 108 converts the detected movement of the moveable object 102 into a corresponding digital or analog signal representative of the movement. The sensor 108 then transmits the signal to the location processor 104 as a dead-reckoning signal. For example, a rotary encoder dead-reckoning sensor may be one of either a mechanical or optical quadrature encoder that detects a direction and magnitude of wheel movement. Additionally, rotary encoder dead-reckoning sensors on multiple wheels of the moveable object 102 may be used as quadrature encoders to determine an orientation of the moveable object 102 based on differences in rotation of the different wheels.

The example absolute position sensor 110 of FIG. 1 detects a presence of an absolute position transmitter 114. The absolute position sensor 110 includes any sensor that can detect RF, light, sound or any other signals generated by the absolute position transmitter 114. While FIG. 1 shows the moveable object 102 as having the single absolute position sensor 110, in other embodiments the moveable object 102 can have multiple absolute position sensors.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the absolute position sensor 110 transmits absolute positioning signals that are used by the location processor 104 to determine a reference location of the moveable object 102 at a point in time. In particular, the absolute position sensor 110 detects signals generated by the transmitter 114 and determines an identifier associated with the signal. For example, the transmitter 114 encodes a signal with an identifier that is unique only to that particular transmitter 114. The absolute position sensor 110 decodes the signal to determine the identifier. The absolute position sensor 110 then transmits the identifier within an absolute positioning signal to the location processor 104.

In certain embodiments, the absolute position sensor 110 may also detect an intensity or strength of a signal transmitted by the absolute position transmitter 114. In these embodiments, the absolute position sensor 110 includes the intensity or signal strength with the identifier in an absolute positioning signal. The location processor 104 then uses the intensity or signal strength information to determine a distance between the absolute position transmitter 114 and the moveable object 102.

In other embodiments, the absolute position sensor 110 only converts the RF or light signal from the transmitter 114 into an electronic signal. In these alternative embodiments, the location processor 104 decodes the absolute positioning signal from the sensor 110 to determine the identifier associated with the transmitter 114. In another embodiment, the absolute position sensor 110 may transmit RF or light request signals that are received by the transmitter 114. In these embodiments, the transmitter 114 generates a response signal including an identifier after receiving a request signal.

The example transmitter 114 of FIG. 1 includes any device capable of transmitting an identifier via light, RF, or sound signals. Together, the absolute position sensor 110 and the absolute position transmitter(s) 114 provide an absolute position system 116. The absolute position system 116 includes a configuration of sensors 110 and transmitters 114 to detect reference locations of the moveable object 102 at a point in time in an indoor environment. An absolute position system 116 may include tens, hundreds, or thousands of the transmitters 114 or sensors 110 that enable the detection and position of multiple moveable objects in an indoor area.

The indoor navigation system 100 includes the location processor 104 to determine a current location of the moveable object 102 at a point in time based on dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals. The location processor 104 is shown in FIG. 1 being separate from the moveable object 102. In certain embodiments, the location processor 104 is located within the indoor area (such as within a computer or server central to the indoor area). In other embodiments, the location processor 104 is external to the indoor area (such as within a computer or server central to multiple indoor areas). Alternatively, the location processor 104 may be attached to the moveable object 102 (such as being included within the user device).

Additionally, while the location processor 104 is shown as one device, in other examples, portions of the location processor 104 may be included within different devices. For example, receivers 118 and 120 and a position calculator 122 may be included within the user device while an application processor 124, display device interface 126, and databases 128 and 130 are located within a server or computer for the indoor area. Further, while the location processor 104 is shown as including the functional components 118 to 130, the processor 104 may include additional components based on functions and applications implemented by the indoor navigation system 100.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the location processor 104 includes the dead-reckoning (D-R) receiver 118 and the absolute position (A-P) receiver 120. The D-R receiver 118 receives dead-reckoning signals from the dead-reckoning sensor 108. After receiving a signal, the D-R receiver 118 parses the signal for movement and orientation information. The D-R receiver 118 then transmits this information to the position calculator 122. In certain embodiments, the D-R receiver 118 buffers received dead-reckoning signals until the position calculator 122 is available.

The A-P receiver 120 of FIG. 1 receives absolute positioning signals from the absolute position sensor 110. After receiving a signal, the A-P receiver 120 parses the signal for an identifier associated with the transmitter 114. The A-P receiver 120 may also parse the signal for signal intensity or signal strength information. The A-P receiver 120 then transmits this information to the position calculator 122. In certain embodiments, the A-P receiver 120 buffers absolute positioning signals until the position calculator 122 is available.

The example location processor 104 includes the position calculator 122 to calculate a location of the moveable object 102 in the indoor area. The example position calculator 122 uses dead-reckoning signals and absolute positioning signals to determine a location of the moveable object in reference to an indoor area. The position calculator 122 applies a position computation algorithm (PCA) to received signals to determine a location of the moveable object 102. The PCA uses the absolute positioning signals to determine a reference location of the moveable object 102 and uses the dead-reckoning signals to determine a direction and distance of travel of the moveable object 102 from a reference location. In some embodiments, the PCA uses dead-reckoning signals or previously received dead-reckoning signals in conjunction with absolute positioning signals to determine an orientation of the moveable object 102 at a reference location at a point in time. Thus, the PCA uses the dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals in combination or sequentially so that the location of the moveable object 102 in the indoor area is always known.

FIG. 2 shows a general flowchart of an example process 200 that can be used by the PCA of the position calculator 122 to determine a current location of the moveable object 102. The process 200 begins by the position calculator receiving dead-reckoning signals and/or absolute position signals as indicated by blocks 202 and 204. The position calculator 122 then determines if an absolute position signal was received as indicated by block 206.

If the absolute positioning signal is available, the position calculator 122 determines a location of the moveable object 102 at a point in time based on this signal because it provides a known reference location (such as being adjacent to the transmitter 114) at this point in time. However, if an absolute positioning signal is not available, indicating the moveable object 102 is not in proximity of the transmitter 114, the position calculator 122 uses the dead-reckoning signal to determine movement of the moveable object 102 from a previously known location. In this manner, the position calculator 122 oscillates between the use of absolute positioning and dead-reckoning signals based on the availability of absolute positioning signals.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2, if the absolute positioning signal is received, the position calculator 122 determines an identifier within the signal as indicated by block 208. The position calculator 122 uses the identifier to determine which type of absolute position system 116 is being used by the indoor navigation system 100 by determining if the identifier is associated with a beacon, the moveable object 102, or the transmitter 114 as indicated by blocks 210 and 212. In embodiments where only one type of absolute position system 116 is implemented, the position calculator 122 may forgo this determination.

If the identifier is associated with the transmitter 114, the position calculator 122 matches the identifier to a location within an indoor area as indicated by block 214. To make this match, the position calculator 122 accesses the indoor area database 128, which includes a list of identifiers of transmitters 114 used throughout the indoor area and the corresponding location of each of the transmitters 114. The position calculator 122 associates a location corresponding to the transmitter 114 as an input to determine at a point in time the location of the moveable object 102. In instances when absolute positioning signals are received from multiple absolute position sensors 110, the position calculator 122 determines a reference location of the moveable object 102 by determining a common point associated with all of the corresponding transmitters 114.

The position calculator 122 may also use signal intensity or signal strength information to determine a distance between the transmitter 114 and the absolute position sensor 110 as indicated by block 216. The position calculator 122 determines the distance based on known signal intensities or signal strengths correlated or calibrated to known distances. For example, a signal intensity normalized to 0.5 may correspond to a distance of 1 meter. The position calculator 122 uses this distance information in conjunction with the known location of the transmitter 114 to calculate the reference location of the moveable object 102 as indicated by block 218.

The position calculator 122 stores the reference location of the moveable object 102 for subsequent determinations of its location as indicated by block 220. The position calculator 122 next transmits a message indicative of the reference location to, for example, the user device 106 as indicated by block 222. The position calculator 122 then returns to receiving dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals as indicated by blocks 202 and 204. In certain embodiments, the position calculator 122 receives and processes signals while at some substantially same time determining and transmitting messages indicative of the location of the moveable object 102.

In embodiments where an identifier is associated with a beacon or an RF transmitter (such as the transmitter 114) as indicated by block 210, the position calculator 122 determines a location of the moveable object 102 using a triangulation calculator as indicated by block 224. In these embodiments, the position calculator 122 receives absolute positioning signals associated with at least three different RF transmitters. The position calculator 122 may also use detected signal strength to calculate a distance between the moveable object 102 and the RF transmitters as indicated by block 216 before storing and transmitting messages indicative of the calculated reference location as indicated by blocks 220 and 222.

In embodiments where the identifier is associated with the moveable object 102 as indicated by block 212, the position calculator 122 analyzes a video image captured by a camera as indicated by block 226. In these embodiments, the transmitter 114 may function as an infrared light transmitter (such as a pulse emitter) and is attached to the moveable object 102. Also, the absolute position sensor 110 is implemented by a camera that is located within an indoor area and not attached to the moveable object 102. The location processor 122 determines a location of the moveable object 102 by knowing a position and orientation of the camera, determining coordinates in a video image where the infrared light is located, and determining a reference location based on the coordinates as indicated by block 218. In this embodiment, the indoor area database 128 stores a list that associates reference locations with video image coordinates associated with a specific camera. After determining the reference location of the moveable object 102, the position calculator 122 stores the reference location and transmits a message indicative of the reference location as indicated by blocks 220 and 222.

To determine a location of the moveable object 102 based on a dead-reckoning signal as indicated by block 206, the position calculator 122 uses the PCA to calculate an orientation and distance as indicated by blocks 228 and 230. The position calculator 122 then adds the orientation and distance to the previously known stored location of the moveable object 102 as indicated by block 232. For example, if the previously known location was a reference location, the position calculator 122 adds the calculated distance and direction to determine a current location. The position calculator 122 then stores the current location to an application processor 124 and transmits a message indicative of the current location as indicated by blocks 220 and 222.

Returning to FIG. 1, after the position calculator 122 has determined the location of the moveable device at a point in time, the application processor 124 processes the location in conjunction with navigational-based applications. For example, the application processor 124 determines which point on a map or pictorial or graphical representation of the indoor area corresponds to the current location of the moveable object 102 at a point in time. In another embodiment, the application processor 124 calculates a route through an indoor area based on the current location at a point in time and products of interest specified by a user. In other example embodiments, the application processor 124 determines which products are in proximity to the current location of the moveable object 102 so as to cause the display device 107 to display a corresponding coupon or advertisement.

The application processor 124 accesses the application database 130 and the indoor area database 128 to determine when the current location is to be displayed in reference to an indoor area or relevant products. The application database 130 includes applications and corresponding data used by the application processor 124. A user or operator of the indoor navigation system 100 updates the database 130 based on applications to be available to a user of the moveable object 102 or based on requests of product manufacturers. For example, a product manufacturer may have the application database 130 updated with an advertisement for a product when a moveable object is in proximity of the product. The databases 128 and 130 may be implemented by Electronically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), Random Access Memory (RAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), and/or any other type of memory.

The example location processor 104 includes the display device interface 126 to maintain communication sessions with one or more of the user devices 106. The example display device interface 126 formats and transmits messages indicative of a current location of the moveable object 102 to the user device 106, thereby causing the display device 107 to display the location. The display device interface 126 also transmits application data (such as product information, a map of an indoor area, a route though an indoor area, turn-by-turn directions to a product, an advertisement, etc.), which is displayed by the display device 107 in conjunction with the current location of the moveable object 102.

The example display device interface 126 also receives inputs provided by the input device 112. The inputs can include a name of a product or a scanned bar code of a product. After receiving an input, the display device interface 126 forwards this data to the application processor 124. Additionally, in instances where the location processor 104 is communicating with multiple user devices, the display device interface 126 manages connectivity sessions between the user devices and the corresponding applications being operated in the application processor 124.

While the location processor 104 has been shown in FIG. 1, one or more of the servers, platforms, interfaces, data structures, elements, processes and/or devices illustrated in FIG. 1 may be combined, divided, re-arranged, omitted, eliminated and/or implemented in any way. Further, the user device 106, the display device 107, the dead-reckoning sensor 108, the absolute position sensor 110, the receivers 118 and 120, the position calculator 122, the application processor 124, the display device interface 126, the databases 128 and 130, and more generally, the location processor 104 may be implemented by hardware, software, firmware and/or any combination of hardware, software and/or firmware. Thus, for example, any of the user device 106, the display device 107, the dead-reckoning sensor 108, the absolute position sensor 110, the receivers 118 and 120, the position calculator 122, the application processor 124, the display device interface 126, the databases 128 and 130, and/or more generally, the location processor 104 could be implemented by one or more circuit(s), programmable processor(s), application specific integrated circuit(s) (ASIC(s)), programmable logic device(s) (PLD(s)) and/or field programmable logic device(s) (FPLD(s)), etc. At least one of the user device 106, the display device 107, the dead-reckoning sensor 108, the absolute position sensor 110, the receivers 118 and 120, the position calculator 122, the application processor 124, the display device interface 126, or the databases 128 and 130 can include or be implemented by a computer readable medium such as a memory, DVD, CD, etc. storing the software and/or firmware.

FIG. 3 shows an example implementation of the indoor navigation system 100 of FIG. 1 where the absolute position system 116 includes LED-based transmitters 114 a and 114 b emitting infrared laser light and light sensing absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b. In this embodiment, the indoor area includes a grocery store and the moveable object 102 includes a grocery cart. The dead-reckoning sensor 108 and the absolute position sensor 110 described in FIG. 1 are included within position sensing apparatus 302 and 304. Additionally, the user device 106 is shown attached to the moveable object 102. While the embodiment shows the transmitters 114 a and 114 b, other indoor areas can include additional transmitters 114 located throughout the indoor area.

In this embodiment, the absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b are infrared light sensors that are located by rear wheels 306 and 308 of the moveable object 102 to detect infrared light transmitted by the transmitters 114 a and 114 b. The transmitters 114 a and 114 b are laser LEDs that transmit uniquely timed pulses of light 310 and 312 corresponding to assigned identifiers. In this embodiment, the transmitter 114 a could be assigned identifier ‘a1 a’ and the transmitter 114 b could be assigned identifier ‘a2 a.’ The transmitters 114 a and 114 b are aligned such that the absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b detect the transmitted pulses of light when the moveable object 102 passes in proximity to the transmitters 114 a and 114 b.

When the moveable object 102 passes through the pulses of light 310 and 312, the absolute position sensor 110 a detects the light pulse 312 and the absolute position sensor 110 b detects the light pulse 310. The sensor 110 a determines that the timing of the light pulse 312 corresponds to the identifier ‘a1 a’ and transmits this identifier to the location processor 104 as an absolute positioning signal. The processor 104 then cross-references the ‘a1 a’ identifier to the location of the transmitter 114 a at the corner of aisle 314 to determine a first reference location of the moveable object 102. In a similar manner, the sensor 110 b determines the light pulse 310 corresponds to the identifier ‘a2 a.’ The location processor 104 cross-references the ‘a2 a’ identifier to a corner location of aisle 316 to determine a second reference location of the moveable object 102. In certain instances, the location processor 104 resolves the first and second reference locations by determining that the reference location of the moveable object 102 should be located between the two transmitters 114 a and 114 b. In this manner, the indoor navigation system 100 is able to accurately and precisely determine a reference location of the moveable object 102 in an indoor area.

In certain embodiments, the transmitters 114 a and 114 b have differently timed light pulses for different directions of the transmitted light. For example, the transmitter 114 a includes two directions of light transmission shown by light pulses 312 and 318. The light pulse 312 can be timed to represent the ‘a1 a’ identifier and the light pulse 318 can be timed to represent the ‘a1 b’ identifier. The location processor 104 then uses the identifier to determine that not only is the transmitter 114 a in proximity to the moveable object 102 but also which side of the transmitter 114 a the moveable object 102 is located.

FIGS. 4A and 4B generally show an example of how the absolute position system 116 operates in conjunction with the dead-reckoning sensor 108. The location processor 104 uses dead-reckoning signals to determine the moveable object 102 is located at accumulated error location 402. However, the moveable object 102 is actually located at reference location 404. The difference between the accumulated error location 402 and the reference location 404 may result from accumulating errors of the dead-reckoning sensor 108. The accumulating errors can result from physical anomalies such as wheels of the shopping cart slipping on a floor, drift in solid state micro sensors, or interference from RF events. The accumulating errors can also result from repeated mathematical rounding by the position calculator 122.

In this example, the indoor navigation system 100 uses absolute positioning signals to correct for any accumulating error. For instance, in FIG. 4A, the transmitter 114 a emits the light pulse 318, which is detected by the absolute position sensor 110 b of the moveable object 102. The location processor 104 determines that an identifier encoded in the light pulse 318 corresponds to the transmitter 114 a and that the moveable object 102 is positioned somewhere along a line segment that coincides with the pulsed light 318.

The location processor 104 determines where the moveable object 102 is located along the line segment by extrapolating the accumulated error of the accumulated error location 402 to the location of the pulsed light 318. The location processor 104 extrapolates the current location 102 by minimizing the adjustment of the location of the moveable object 102. Thus, the location processor 104 adjusts the location of the moveable object 102 to the point along the light pulse 318 that is closet to the location 402. The location processor 104 then changes the displayed location of the moveable object from the accumulated error location 402 to the reference location 404.

FIG. 4B shows an example where the location processor 104 has calculated the moveable object 102 is at the location 402. However, in this example, the moveable object 102 passes through the pulsed light 312. The location processor 104 uses a unique identifier associated with the pulsed light 312 to determine the moveable object 102 is actually located at the reference location 404. In this manner, the absolute position system 116 provides error correction for accumulating errors resulting from extended reliance of dead-reckoning signals.

In this embodiment, the location processor 104 uses map imposed restrictions to ensure a calculated location of the moveable object 102 does not violate location rules. For instance, the location processor 104 may determine based on accumulating errors that the calculated location 402 coincides with the aisle 316. A location rule may specify that the moveable object 102 cannot be located on aisles. As a result, the location processor 104 recalculates the location of the moveable object to be adjacent to the aisle 316 at the nearest point to the accumulated error location 402.

Furthermore, it should also be appreciated that such map imposed restrictions are not only considered at points where an absolute positioning process is executed, but at any time when the location of the moveable object 102 is updated. For example, if a location is updated as a result of dead-reckoning processes where accumulated errors should cause a violation of location rules (such as when the carts location overlaps with a physical shelving unit), the location is again updated such that the move object 102 is displayed as being closest to the calculated position without violating such rules (e.g. adjacent rather than overlapped to the physical shelving unit).

FIG. 5 generally shows how the absolute position system 116 of FIG. 1 determines an orientation of the moveable object 102. In this example, the location processor 104 uses dead-reckoning signals and timing of absolute positioning signals to determine an orientation of the moveable object 102. In this instance, the absolute position sensor 110 b detects the pulsed light 310 at time A and the absolute position sensor 110 a detects the pulsed light 312 at a time B. Using the computed location derived at time A and time B (which make use of the dead-reckoning signals as described previously) enables a vector to be computed connecting computed locations 502 and 504. The location processor 104 uses this information to determine that the moveable object at time B is located at the reference location 504 at an angle equal to theta (θ) such that only the absolute position sensor 110 a is aligned with the transmitter 114 a.

The difference between computed locations 502 and 504 at times A and B is relatively small, meaning that any accumulated error introduced through the dead-reckoning process between these two times is also relatively small (possibly equal or very near a zero error value). Based on the relatively small accumulated error, the location processor 104 considers the dead-reckoning signals as being accurate to provide an accurate calculation of both orientation and position. Again, this is significant because the location processor 104 calculates subsequent future dead-reckoning based-positions using a starting or absolute location and orientation. It should also be appreciated that while this description has pertained to the embodiment where pulsed light is detected, equivalent assumptions and calculation can be performed when RFID tags have been detected to enable accurate determination of absolute location and orientation.

The location processor 104 then causes the display device 107 of the user device 106 to display movement of the moveable object 102 by showing the moveable object 102 has moved from reference location 502 to reference location 504. In this manner, the location processor 104 uses a combination of absolute positioning signals and dead-reckoning signals to calculate an orientation and position of the moveable object 102.

FIG. 6 shows the example moveable object 102 of FIG. 3 in an indoor area that uses rows of RFID tags 602 and 604 as transmitters 114 for absolute positioning. The rows of RFID tags 602 and 604 are shown as being parallel with each other and located between the aisles 314 and 316. In other embodiments, the rows of RFID tags 602 and 604 are placed on a floor in different patterns or designs (such as in next to and positioned in parallel to the aisle 314). Additionally, while the rows of RFID tags 602 and 604 are shown attached or embedded within the floor of an indoor area, other embodiments could have rows of RFID tags located in shelving of the aisles 314 and 316.

In this illustrated embodiment, the position sensing apparatus 302 and 304 includes absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b that are downward facing RFID readers. The absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b transmit RF read request signals. After receiving a read request signal, the rows of RFID tags 602 and 604 transmit a response signal that includes a unique identifier. The identifier corresponds to the entire row of RFID tags 602 and 604. Alternatively, each RFID tag within the rows 602 and 604 may be assigned a unique identifier assisting the location processor 104 to more accurately determine a reference location of the moveable object 102. It should be appreciated that the location processor 104 can accurately determine an absolute location of the moveable object 102 based only on absolute position signals from one downward facing RFID reader.

After receiving an identifier of either of the rows of RFID tags 602 and 604, the absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b transmit absolute positioning signals to the location processor 104. The location processor 104 then cross-references the identifiers to a reference location within an indoor area. The location processor 104 next transmits messages indicative of this reference location to the user device 106 for display to a user. In this manner, the indoor navigation system 100 is able to accurately and precisely determine a reference location of the moveable object 102.

In other embodiments, the rows of RFID tags 602 and 604 are replaced by RFID transmitters in the absolute position system 116. These RFID transmitters emit a unique RFID beacon that is detected by the RF readers or receivers of the absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b. The absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b detect one or more beacons and determine identifiers associated with the beacons. The absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b may also determine signal strength of the beacons. The absolute position sensors 110 a and 110 b next transmit the identifiers and signal strength to the location processor 104, which references the identifiers to the known locations of the beacons. The location processor 104 then uses the signal strength and the locations of each beacon to triangulate a reference location of the moveable object 102.

FIG. 7 shows the example moveable object 102 of FIGS. 3 and 6 with an infrared light pulse emitter 702. In this embodiment, the pulse emitter 702 is the transmitter 114 of FIG. 1A and emits a uniquely timed pattern of light that represents an identifier corresponding to the moveable object 102. The pulsed light is detected by a camera 704 positioned within an indoor area. In this embodiment, the camera 704 is the absolute position sensor 110 of FIG. 1A. While FIG. 7 shows the single camera 704, other embodiments can include additional cameras spaced throughout an indoor area.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the camera 704 detects the pulsed light transmitted by the pulse emitter 702 when the moveable object 102 passes within a field of view of the camera 704. The camera 704 records the detected pulse light in video, which is then transmitted to the location processor 104. The location processor 104 analyzes the video to determine an identifier from the pulsed light pattern. The location processor 104 also determines a reference location of the moveable object 102 by determining where in a video image the pulsed light is located.

For example, the field of view of the camera 704 corresponds to known locations in the indoor area. The field of view is associated with a coordinate system that corresponds directly to reference locations. The location processor 104 determines where the pulsed light is located in the field of view then cross-references the corresponding coordinates to a reference location within the indoor area. The location processor 104 then uses the pulse light pattern to identify the moveable object 102. The location processor 104 subsequently designates this location as the reference location of the moveable object 102.

In embodiments where the indoor area includes multiple cameras 704 that have overlapping fields of view, the location processor 104 resolves multiple determined locations into a single reference location. In these examples, the cameras 704 may be communicably coupled to the location processor 104 via any wired or wireless communication medium. Additionally, it should be appreciated that the camera 704 can record movement of the moveable object 102 as long as the moveable object 102 is within a field of view of the camera 704 and has a line of sight to the pulse emitter 702. In these instances, the location processor 104 may only use dead-reckoning signals when the moveable object 102 is out of view of the cameras 704. Thus, the cameras 704, in some instances, may provide more precise location accuracy than the systems described in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 6.

FIG. 8 shows one embodiment of the position sensing apparatus 302 of FIGS. 3, 6, and 7. In this embodiment, the position sensing apparatus 302 is configured (i.e., sized and shaped) to fit around the wheel 306 of the moveable object 102 to detect rotation of the wheel 306. It should be appreciated that the position sensing apparatus 302 can be configured differently in other embodiments to attach to differently shaped parts of the moveable object 102. Additionally, the position sensing apparatus 302 can include additional or fewer components based on a type of the absolute position system 116 or a type of the dead-reckoning sensor 108 used in the indoor navigation system 100.

The position sensing apparatus 302 includes a code wheel 802 and encoder circuitry 804 coupled to a first cover 806. The code wheel 802 and encoder circuitry 804 comprise the dead-reckoning sensor 108 of FIG. 1. The code wheel 802 and the encoder circuitry 804 implement what is commonly known as a quadrature encoder. The code wheel 802 is attached to the wheel 306 so that it rotates at a same speed and direction as the wheel 306 rotates. The first cover 806 secures the encoder circuitry 804 in close proximity to the code wheel 802, which is attached to the wheel 302. The first cover 806 does not prevent the wheel 302 or the attached code wheel 802 from freely rotating. The first cover 806 enables the encoder circuitry 804 to detect rotation of the wheel 302 as the code wheel 802 rotates in proximity to the dead-reckoning sensors 805.

FIG. 9 shows the code wheel 802 attached to the wheel 302 to form a rotary encoder. This type of encoder accurately detects forward or reverse rotation of the wheel 302. In this embodiment, the code wheel 802 fits within or is attached to a wheel hub 902 of the wheel 306. The wheel hub 902 connects the wheel 306 to a leg or appendage of the moveable object 102. The wheel hub 902 also functions as a rim for a wheel tread 904. The wheel tread 904 and the wheel hub 902 can be formed from any suitable material such as a rubber, a plastic, a composite material, and a metal, or suitable combinations thereof. The wheel tread 904 makes contact with a floor of an indoor area and provides traction to move the moveable object 102.

The code wheel 802 includes one or more reflective light sections 906 and one or more non-reflective light sections 908. The sections 906 and 908 are alternatively spaced so that sensors 805 located on the encoder circuitry 804 can detect transitions between the differently colored sections 906 and 908. While the sections 906 and 908 are shown as being somewhat rectangular in shape, it should be appreciated that the sections 906 and 908 could include different shapes (such as squares or triangles).

In this illustrated embodiment, the sensor 805 includes a stationary photodiode that detects whether light reflects off of the reflective light section 906 or whether light is absorbed by the non-reflective light section 908. The sensor 805 also includes a light source (such as an infrared LED). The sensor 805 detects rotation of the code wheel 802 when it either detects it has stopped receiving reflected light (indicating a transition to the non-reflective section 908) or detects it has begun receiving reflected light (indicating a transition to the reflective section 906). The timing between transitions indicates how quickly the code wheel 802 is rotating. The mechanism used to detect the differently attributed sections 906 and 908 of the code wheel 802 is often known as an optical quadrature encoder based on its use of reflective light and lack of any need to make physical contact between the sensors 805 and the code wheel 802.

In this illustrated embodiment, the encoder circuitry 804 includes the two sensors 805. The dual sensors enable a rotation direction to be determined. For example, the sensors 805 are spaced apart so that they align with different portions of the sections 906 and 908. Each direction of rotation can be determined based on a timing of transitions detected by each of the sensors 805.

In another embodiment, the sections 906 include electrically conductive material, the sections 908 include electrically non-conductive material, and the sensors 805 of the encoder circuitry 804 include resistive switches. In this embodiment, the code wheel 802 includes a printed circuit board (“PCB”). The sections 906 can be comprised of tin, copper, or gold coated on the PCB, and the sections 908 include non-coated sections of the PCB. The resistive switches include at least two or more thin metal contact electrodes that press against the code wheel 802 with sufficient pressure to contact the sections 906 and 908. This embodiment is commonly known as a mechanical encoder based on the physical contact made between the electrodes and the surface of the code wheel 802.

In other embodiments, the code wheel 802 and the encoder circuitry 804 can be replaced with force sensors. In these embodiments, accelerometers, inertial sensors, magnetometers, detect movement of the moveable object 102 without having to detect a rotation of the wheel 302. These sensors can include MEMS-based sensors controlled by application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or microprocessors.

Returning to FIG. 8, in addition to the code wheel 802, the position sensing apparatus 302 includes a tab 814 to attach or connect the position sensing apparatus 302 to the wheel 306. The tab 814 is sized and shaped to engage the wheel hub 902 of FIG. 9. In other embodiments the tab 814 can be sized and shaped differently to engage other parts of the wheel 306. Alternatively, the tab 814 can be sized and shaped to engage or attach the position sensing apparatus 302 to other portions of the moveable object 102.

The position sensing apparatus 302 also includes processing circuitry 808 to decode signals generated by the sensors 805 and decode signals generated by the absolute position sensor 110. The processing circuitry 808 is housed between the first cover 806 and the second cover 810. The processing circuitry 808 receives power from a power supply 812 (such as one or more batteries) that is integrated with the second cover 810. Additionally, in this embodiment, the absolute position sensor 110 is integrated with or attached to the second cover 810. In instances where the absolute position transmitter 114 is attached to the moveable object 102, the absolute position transmitter 114 may be integrated with or attached to the second cover 810.

FIG. 10 generally shows a schematic of different circuitry components of the processing circuitry 808. The processing circuitry 808 includes input/output circuitry 1002, microcontroller circuitry 1004, and communication circuitry 1006 to receive outputs from the sensors 805 and the absolute position sensors 110, process the outputs into dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals, and transmit the signals to the location processor 104. More specifically, the input/output circuitry 1002 routes output signals from the sensors 805 and output signals from the absolute position sensor 110 to the microcontroller circuitry 1004. The input/output circuitry 1002 also routes dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals from the microcontroller circuitry 1004 to the communication circuitry 1006. The input/output circuitry 1002 may include one or more suitable buffers or filters to remove noise from the received signals.

The communication circuitry 1006 transmits dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals to the location processor 104 via any wired or wireless medium and protocol. The communication circuitry 1006 may also transmit diagnostic or status information regarding the sensors 108 and 110. The communication circuitry 1006 may also receive information from the location processor 104 to calibrate or configure the sensors 108 and 110.

The microcontroller circuitry 1004 uses signals (such as quadrature outputs from the sensors 805) to determine a movement of the moveable object 102, which is included in a dead-reckoning signal. The microcontroller circuitry 1004 also uses signals from the absolute position sensor 110 to determine an identifier of an absolute position transmitter, which is included in an absolute positioning signal. In other embodiments, the microcontroller circuitry 1004 transforms outputs from the absolute position sensor 110 in to a format for transmission to the location processor 104 as an absolute positioning signal. In these embodiments, the location processor 104 determines the identifier detected by the absolute position sensor 110. The microcontroller circuitry 1004 may also de-bounce signals from the dead-reckoning sensor 108 in instances where resistive switches are used.

In various embodiments, the microcontroller circuitry 1004 transforms signals received from the rotary encoder dead-reckoning sensor 108 into a dead-reckoning signal that specifies the rotation of the wheel 306 as a number of ‘ticks’ in a forward or reverse direction (such as +1 tick to indicate the wheel 306 rotated by one transition of the sections 906 and 908 or −5 ticks to indicate the wheel 306 rotated in reverse by five transitions of the sections 906 and 908). In these embodiments, the microcontroller circuitry 1004 counts a number of transitions reported by the sensors 805 in some time period. The location processor 104 receives the dead-reckoning signals and uses the direction and number of ‘ticks’ to calculate a movement of the moveable object.

In these embodiments, a first dead-reckoning sensor 108 is attached to a left rear wheel and a second dead-reckoning sensor 108 is attached to a right rear wheel of the moveable object 102. The location processor 104 uses dead-reckoning signals from the sensors 108 to calculate a change in position and orientation of the moveable object 102 using equations 1 to 3 below. In these equations, Δx is a change in a left-to-right position of the moveable object 102 and Δy is a change in a forward-to-back position of the moveable object 102. Also, r is a radius of the wheel 306, Δw_(l) is a movement of the left wheel represented as a number of ‘ticks,’ and Δw_(r) is a movement the right wheel represented as a number of ‘ticks.’ Additionally, α is a current orientation (an angle relative to the x and y axes) of the moveable object 102, T is a number of ‘ticks’ (or sections 906 and 908) in the code wheel 802, and d is a distance between the left and right wheels.

$\begin{matrix} {{\Delta \; x} = {r*\left( {{\Delta \; w_{l}} + {\Delta \; w_{r}}} \right)*{\cos (\alpha)}*\frac{\pi}{T}}} & (1) \\ {{\Delta \; y} = {r*\left( {{\Delta \; w_{l}} + {\Delta \; w_{r}}} \right)*{\sin (\alpha)}*\frac{\pi}{T}}} & (2) \\ {\alpha = \frac{2*\pi*r*\frac{\left( {w_{r} - w_{l}} \right)}{T}}{d}} & (3) \end{matrix}$

Returning to FIG. 10, the processing circuitry 808 includes circuitry 1008 1010, and 1012 to manage power consumption and charging of the power supply 812. The power management circuitry 1008 manages power consumption of the position sensing apparatus 302. The power management circuitry 1008 may detect (through monitoring of communication circuitry 1006) that the moveable object 102 is not in use and that power to the encoder circuitry 804 and other portions of the position sensing apparatus 302 can be disabled. In this example, the power management circuitry 1008 provides power to the encoder circuitry 804 when the communication circuitry 1006 infers the moveable object 102 is being used. In some instances, the communication circuitry 1006 infers the moveable object 102 is being used based on messages indicating that a user is using the user device 106.

The battery circuitry 1010 includes components for measuring a power level of the power supply 812. The battery circuitry 1010 may also monitor charging of the power supply 812 to ensure the power supply 812 is not overcharged and damaged. For example, the battery circuitry 1010 disconnects the power supply 812 from the charging area 1012 (such as an induction coil for induction charging) when the power supply 812 is fully charged. The battery circuitry 1010 may also include components for transforming alternating current signals from wireless charging into a direct current to charge the power supply 812.

FIG. 11 generally shows a diagram of various power states 1102, 1104, 1106, and 1108 managed by the power management circuitry 1008 of FIG. 10. The power states 1102 to 1108 correspond to different power consumption levels of the position sensing apparatus 302. In other embodiments, the circuitry 1008 may include additional or fewer power states.

The position sensing apparatus 302 is typically only in a single power state at any given time. The arrows shown in FIG. 11 indicate transitions that the position sensing apparatus 302 will execute, via the power management circuitry 1008, to move between power states. The benefit of managing power consumption of the position sensing apparatus 302 is to keep the apparatus in the lowest possible power (consumption) state at all times, while preserving the desired functionality of the apparatus 302. This ensures any internal power source remains viable for as long as possible without requiring recharging or replacement.

In this embodiment, the power state 1102 represents a lowest power mode of the position sensing apparatus 302. In this power state 1102, the moveable object 102 is not being actively used. For example, in the case of a shopping cart, the moveable object 102 may be sitting in an outdoor parking lot with no customers attempting to interact with it via the user device 106. However, there is still a minimal amount of power flowing to limited circuitry in the position sensing apparatus 302 such that logic can execute to detect if a customer does begin an interaction with the moveable object 102. The position sensing apparatus 302 then transitions to a different power state. In such an example, this start of interaction can be detected when the customer causes the user device 106 to power up and connect wirelessly with the position sensing apparatus 302 (such as by starting a particular “App” on the user device 106).

The power state 1104 represents a power mode where a user has indicated a desire to interact with the user device 106 or the moveable object 102 and make use of its location-aware functionality. Even in this state 1104 there is no need to power all circuitry or sensors within the position sensing apparatus 302. Specifically, even if the user has initiated interaction with the moveable object 102, they may not actually be moving the object. In this mode, dead-reckoning related circuitry is powered on to enable the dead-reckoning sensors 108 to detect movement. However, circuitry related to absolute position sensing (such as the absolute positioning sensors 110) can remain powered off. Without movement, it is unnecessary for the location processor 104 to determine a reference location of the movable object 102, hence making it wasteful to have such absolute position sensing circuitry powered. Again, keeping such peripheral circuitry turned off will reduce the power consumed in this state 1104, enabling any contained power source to remain viable for a longer period of time.

The power state 1106 corresponds to a power consumption mode where all circuitry is powered and operational. Of all modes described in conjunction with FIG. 11, this mode will typically consume the greatest amount of power. As such, dead-reckoning related circuitry will continue to be monitored to determine if any movement is detected and, if no movement occurs for some predetermined amount of time, the position sensing apparatus 302 will transition back to state 1104.

The power state 1108 corresponds to a power mode where the power supply 812 is being charged. In this power mode, the battery circuitry 1010 detects a power source is being applied to the charging area 1012. As a result, the power management circuitry 1008 disables the functionality of the processing circuitry 808 except for the charging circuitry 1010.

FIG. 12 generally shows the power supply 812 of the position sensing apparatus 302 being charged by a power source 1202. In this embodiment, the power source 1202 includes charged induction coils that are aligned with the charging area 1012 to wirelessly charge the power supply 812 of the position sensing apparatus 302. In this embodiment, the power source 1202 includes a track 1204 that aligns the position sensing apparatus 302 with the charged coils. The power source 1202 is configured to charge multiple stacked moveable objects 102. The power source 1202 may be connected to an alternating current supply (such as an electrical outlet) or a direct current supply (such as a battery) to provide power to the embedded coils.

In other embodiments, the power source 1202 includes a direct wired connection to the power supply 812 (such as an electrical plug). In other embodiments, the power supply 812 is removed from the position sensing apparatus 302 and charged at a charging station or replaced. In other embodiments the power supply 812 is charged using force transducers, light sensors, or regenerative actuators.

Turning now to FIG. 13, after the location processor 104 has determined a location of the moveable object 102 based on dead-reckoning signals and absolute positioning signals received from the position sensing apparatus 302, the location processor transmits messages indicative of the current location of the moveable object to the user device 106. The display device 107 included within the user device 106 displays the current location in a display area 1300 in conjunction with any two-dimensional or three dimensional graphical representations of an indoor area or product information. As mentioned above, the user device 106 could include a tablet computer configured to operate with the indoor navigation system 100 for use with the moveable object 102. As also mentioned above, in other embodiments, the user device 106 could include a smartphone or other portable computing device. Further, it should be appreciated that the user device 106 can be coupled or attached to the moveable object 102 via a bracket or other secure coupling device. In various embodiments, the user device 106 can be owned by a user and operate an application that works in conjunction with the indoor navigation system 100.

In certain embodiments where the location processor 104 is separate from the user device 106, the user device 106 functions as a router between the location processor 104 and the absolute sensing apparatus 302. In these embodiments, the user device 106 receives dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals from the absolute sensing apparatus 302 via any wired or wireless communication medium and transmits these signals to the location processor 104. In these examples, the user device 106 may have a longer transmission range than the absolute sensing apparatus 302 to reach the remote location processor 104.

In one example implementation, the user device 106 includes a smartphone containing Bluetooth 4.0 wireless communication functionality and the communication circuitry 1006 of the absolute sensing apparatus 302 includes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) functionality. The absolute sensing apparatus 302 transmits dead-reckoning signals and absolute positioning signals to the user device 106 via Bluetooth packets. The user device 106 receives the packets and transforms the signals into a Wi-Fi format for wireless transmission to the location processor 104.

The user device 106 includes four input devices 112: (1) a touchscreen 1302, (2) a laser scanner 1304, (3) a camera 1306, and (4) a peripheral device 1308. In other embodiments, the user device 106 includes additional or fewer input devices 112 (such as a keyboard, a trackball, a mouse, a motion sensor). Additionally, in other embodiments, the user device 106 may be communicatively coupled to the input devices 112.

The touchscreen 1302 receives inputs by a user contacting a portion of a screen of the display device 107. FIG. 14 shows the touchscreen 1302 enabling a user to enter text by contacting portions of the screen that correspond to keys of a virtual keyboard 1402 displayed in the display area 1300 by the display device 107. In this embodiment, the touchscreen 1302 also includes a partitioned search box 1404 that enables a user to use the virtual keyboard 1402 to enter product search terms, which are displayed in a search results grid 1406. Each area in the grid 1406 includes a product name 1408 and a product photo 1410 that is selectable by a user via the touchscreen 1302 to view more information about the selected product.

Returning to FIG. 13, the laser scanner 1304 transmits laser light that is sensed as it reflects off of barcodes. The laser scanner is used by a user to scan barcodes causing the display device 107 to add the product to a running list of products to be purchased by the user or display product information (such as nutritional information, recipes that incorporate the product, a location of the product in an indoor area, a history of the product, or packaging of the product) associated with the scanned code. The user device 106 or the location processor 104 references the scanned code to the appropriate product or information stored in the application database 130 of FIG. 1.

The camera 1306 records images and sends these images to the user device 106 or the location processor 104. The user device 106 or the location processor 104 processes the information to identify information (such as Quick response (QR) codes or text). The user device 106 or location processor 104 then references the identified information to corresponding displayable information. In instances where the location processor 104 processes the images, the location processor 104 sends the displayable image to the user device 106. The display device 107 then displays the appropriate product information in the display area 1300.

In certain embodiments, the scanner 1304 or the camera 1306 may scan or record codes or images of products in proximity of the moveable object 102. In these embodiments, the user device 106 uses the scanned or recorded information to determine a corresponding advertisement or coupon to display in the display area 1300. In another embodiment, the user device 106 uses the scanned or recorded information to display types of products in proximity to the moveable object 102.

FIG. 15 shows an example implementation using the scanner 1304 or camera 1306. In this embodiment, the display area 1300 of the display device 107 displays a product search menu 1502 that enables a user to search for a product by selecting a first area 1504 or a second area 1506 on the touchscreen 1302. If the user selects the first area 1502, the display device 107 displays the onscreen keyboard 1402 of FIG. 14 to enable a user to type a name of a product or an associated keyword into the search box 1404. If the user selects the second area 1504, the user device 106 activates the scanner 1304 or the camera 1306. A user then uses the scanner 1304 or the camera 1306 to scan or record a bar code 1508 or a product name 1510 of a coupon 1512, which is then used to display the location of associated product(s).

FIG. 16 shows another example implementation using the scanner 1304 or the camera 1306. In this embodiment, the display area 1300 displays a list 1606 of items that a user has placed into the moveable object 102. A user can select area 1602 of the touchscreen 1302 to type names of items added to the moveable object 102. A user can also select the area 1602 to activate the camera 1306 or the scanner 1304 to record an image of an item or its related barcode before the item is placed into the moveable object 102, which is processed by the user device 106 and added for display on the list shown in FIG. 16. Alternatively, the camera 1306 or the scanner 1304 may scan or record a bar code or other product identifier of a coupon or item that corresponds to an item placed in the moveable object 102 to locate the item on the list. Such items may also be easily removed from the list by a user touching associated remove areas of the touchscreen 1302 and removing the items from the moveable object 102 so they are not included in a purchase.

The embodiment of FIG. 16 also includes an area 1604 of the touchscreen 1302 that a user can select to pay for the listed items. An area 1610 of the touchscreen 1302 shows a total amount of the items in the list 1606. The scanner 1304, camera 1306, or peripheral device 1308 can process a payment by scanning or recording a credit card, check, or membership card. In other embodiments, the user device 106 may transmit the list to a check-out register or cashier after a user selects the area 1604.

Returning to FIG. 13, the peripheral device 1308 attaches to a 1310 port of the user device 106. The peripheral device 1308 includes a magnetic reader for reading magnetic strips on credit cards, membership rewards cards, or product packaging. The peripheral device 1308 could also include an RFID reader for reading RFID tags on products or RFID tags in the absolute position system 116. Alternatively, the peripheral device 1308 could include the absolute position transmitter 114 to transmit a unique identifier by transmitting pulsed infrared light via an LED included within the peripheral device 1308, which is detected by absolute position sensors 110 in an indoor area (such the camera 704 of FIG. 7).

The example user device 106 of FIG. 13 also includes a docking port 1312. The docking port 1312 may be connected to a power supply to periodically charge the user device 106. The docking port 1312 may also be connected to a processor (such as the location processor 104) to receive updated indoor area information (such as maps, product information, etc.). The docking port 1312 may also be used to communicatively couple the user device 106 to devices such as those described above including, for example, the position sensing apparatus 302.

FIG. 17 shows a summary of various example functions that indoor navigation system 100 of FIG. 1 can perform in conjunction with the user device 106 of FIG. 13 by knowing a location of the moveable object 102. Many of these example functions have been described above such as calculating a location of the moveable object 102 based on dead-reckoning and absolute positioning signals, displaying coupons or advertisements based on the moveable object 102 being in proximity to certain products, and searching for locations of products in an indoor area. Additionally, the user device 106 may use a location of the moveable object 102 to provide turn-by-turn directions to find a requested product or to travel an optimized path based on locations of products specified in a grocery list.

The user device 106 can log where the moveable object 102 has traveled and which products were selected. This logged data can be used by advertisers, product marketers, or other third parties to determine how consumers shop or move in an indoor area. Additionally, the user device 106 can use this logged data to provide product suggestions based on purchase history.

The user device 106 further includes a support request function. This function may request personnel in an indoor area to travel to the moveable object 102. The personnel can use the current location of the moveable object 102 to locate the moveable object, thereby enabling the user to continue moving the moveable object 102 to continue shopping. In other embodiments, the support request function can cause the display device 107 to display locations of personnel able to assist a user where such locations may be updated based on tracked movable object(s) 102 that are associated with or being used by such personnel.

FIG. 18 shows the display area 1300 of the display device 107 displaying some of the functions described in conjunction with FIG. 17 as selectable options. Each area corresponds to a portion of the touchscreen 1302 that causes the display device 107 to display functionality associated with a selected area. For example, a user can select the Map area of the display area 1300 to view a current location of the moveable object 102 in a graphical representation of an indoor area. In another example, a user can select the Locate a Product area of the display area 1300 to view the product search onscreen keyboard 1402 described in conjunction with FIG. 14 or select the Shopping Plan area to view a shopping list with a recommended planned route.

FIG. 19 generally shows a functional schematic diagram of application data used in conjunction with a location of the moveable object 102 by the user device 106 or the application processor 124 of FIG. 1. These databases 1902, 1904, and 1906 may alternatively be implemented on the user device 106 and be periodically updated via the location processor 104 or a remote server. In this embodiment, the application database 130 includes databases 1902, 1904, and 1906 containing different application information. The database 1902 includes product location and pricing information, the database 1904 includes consumer purchase history and shopping lists, and the database 1906 includes information regarding product offers, coupons, and promotions.

In an example implementation, the location processor 104 determines a current location of the moveable object and transmits a message that specifies this location as indicated by block 1908. The user device 106 or the application processor 124 uses the location combined with input from the databases 1902 to 1906 to calculate priority scores for potential offers (such as discount coupons, product promotions, suggestive sells) and selects offers with the highest scores as indicated by block 1910. The user device 106 then determines which offers to display or a sequence in which to display the offers in the display area 1300 of the display device 107 as indicated by block 1912.

In an example of FIG. 19, the moveable object 102 is at a location in an indoor area and facing or oriented to face a particular product at that location (as determined using database 1902), which is a product that has been purchased by the customer in the past (as indicated by database 1904). In this instance, the location processor 104 calculates a relatively high priority score for advertising or an available offer related to that product, if such an offer exists in database 1906. The display device 107 then displays the offer.

FIG. 20 shows the display area 1300 of the display device 107 displaying a current location 2002 of the moveable object 102 in a graphical representation 2004 of an indoor area (such as a map). In this embodiment, the user device 106 receives a message from the location processor 104 indicative of a location of the moveable object 102. The message may include coordinates of the graphical representation 2004 that the display device 107 uses to display the current location 2002 of the moveable object 102. The display device 107 displays an icon at the current location 2002 representing the moveable object 102 at a point on the graphical representation 2004 that corresponds to the actual location of the moveable object 102 in the indoor area. The icon may be positioned in the display area 1300 to show an orientation of the moveable object 102 in relation to objects (such as shelves) in the graphical representation 2004.

In addition to displaying the current location 2002 of the moveable object 102 via the display device 107, the user device 106 accesses the databases 1902 to 1906 described in conjunction with FIG. 19 to display application information including: (a) a navigational route 2006, (b) turn-by-turn directions 2008, (c) a coupon alert 2010, (d) a list of offers of products 2012 in proximity to the moveable object 102, and (e) a list of suggested products 2014. The display device 107 also displays icons (such as ‘1,’ ‘2,’ and ‘3’) corresponding to each of the offers 2012 on the graphical representation 2004 showing actual locations of those products in the indoor area.

In this embodiment, the user device 106 updates the current location 202 of the moveable object 102 based on messages received from the location processor 104. Additionally, the user device 106 updates the turn-by-turn directions 2008 and the navigation route 2006 based on the current location 2002. Further, the user device 106 updates the list of offers of products 2012 based on the current location 2002 of the moveable object 102 in the indoor area.

In some embodiments, the user device 106 prompts a user for an identifier of an indoor area prior to displaying the moveable object 102 in the graphical representation 2004. In these embodiments, a user may specify a name, an address, or a term associated with the indoor area, causing the user device 106 (such as a smartphone of the user operating an indoor navigation application) to select the appropriate graphical representation 2004. Alternatively, the user device 106 may use GPS prior to entering the indoor area to determine the appropriate graphical representation 2004.

FIG. 21 shows another embodiment of the graphical representation 2004. In this embodiment, the display area 1300 includes a shopping list 2102. The products listed in the shopping list 2102 are re-sequenced based on an optimal navigation route 2104 through the indoor area. The optimal navigation route 2104 can be determined based on different navigation strategies. For example, the user device 106 can determine a shortest route, a route avoiding congested areas (by knowing locations of other moveable objects), or a route that includes the locations of designated products specified by an advertiser or personnel of the indoor area.

The display device 107 displays this calculated route as the navigational route 2104 with numerical references corresponding to locations of the products in the shopping list 2102. The user device 106 updates the navigational route 2104 as the moveable object 102 moves along the route. Additionally, as the products are placed into the moveable object 102, the user device 106 may remove the corresponding product from the shopping list 2102.

FIG. 22 shows another example embodiment of the graphical representation 2004 displayed in the display area 1300 of the display device 107. In this example embodiment, the current location 2002 of the moveable object 102 is displayed in addition to the navigational route 2104 and the turn-by-turn directions 2008. Additionally, the display device 107 displays product offers 2202 and 2204 corresponding to products in proximity to the current location 2002. The offers 2202 and 2204 include a description of the offer, a picture of the product 2208, and the product's vertical location on a shelf 2210. The display device 107 also displays a product advertisement 2206 that includes a product slogan, a picture of the product, and the product's location on a shelf. In certain embodiments, the advertisement 2206 includes a video showing a commercial associated with the product. In other embodiments, the advertisement 2206 includes a suitable interactive game.

In another embodiment, the offers 2202 and 2204 may be displayed by the user device 106 at periodic times or at a time specified by an operator of the indoor area or a manufacturer of a product. The offers 2202 and 2204 may include an advertisement or a sale for a product that may not be in proximity to the moveable object 102. The offers 2202 and 2204 could include a prompt asking if the user is interested in the product. If the user is interested, the user device 106 displays the directions 2008 or the navigational route 2104 to the product in the graphical representation 2004. The user device 106 could also display more information about the product (such as nutritional information).

In another embodiment, the offers 2202 and 2204 include specials (such as blue light specials). In this embodiment, the user device 106 displays the offers 2202 and 2204 at predetermined times. In some instances, an operator of the indoor area or a manufacturer of a product specifies when the offers 2202 and 2204 are to be displayed.

Additionally, the offers 2202 and 2204 could be based on a profile or history of a user. In these instances, the user device 106 prompts a user for an identifier to retrieve a shopping history. The user device 106 then selects the offers 2202 and 2204 that match or correspond to previous purchases by the user. Alternatively, in instances where a user is anonymous, the user device 106 displays the offers 2202 and 2204 specified for anonymous users.

FIGS. 23 and 24 generally depict how route planning may be performed in one embodiment. In this example embodiment, a simplified Voronoi diagram or approximate medial-axis transform is first computed using all of the boundaries of the moveable areas within an indoor space, which creates a connected graph that generalizes all potential moving routes 2302 within that indoor area based on a topology of an indoor area. These routes may then be segmented into different branches 2304 and zones 2307 based on, for example, the closeness or adjacency of isles and walkways throughout an indoor area. Hence, the Voronoi diagram is used to calculate potential moving routes 2302 which are composed of branches 2304 of which one or more branches may comprise a zone 2307. If the indoor area is sufficiently small, it may be quite reasonable for it to have just a single zone that is comprised of all of the calculated branches of the moving routes implied by the space's associated Voronoi diagram. The main purpose for segmenting groups of branches into separate zones is to ensure the computational efficiency and practicality of calculating routes within large, complex indoor spaces.

FIG. 24 generally shows the shopping list 2102 of FIG. 21 re-sequenced to create a shopping list 2301 based on the locations of items within the shopping list and the processes described in conjunction with FIGS. 25, 26, and 27. This re-sequencing of shopping list items enables the user to navigate a more continuous and efficient path through the indoor space saving time and energy.

FIGS. 25, 26, and 27 generally show flowcharts of machine readable instructions executable by the user device 106 or the application processor 124 to calculate a route through an indoor area using potential moving routes 2302 described in conjunction with FIGS. 23 and 24. FIG. 25 shows a process 2500 that calculates a shortest distance between two points (such as two different products on a shopping list). The process 2500 begins when the application processor 124 or the user device 106 deconstructs the graphical representation 2004 to specify boundaries of navigational space within an indoor area as indicated by block 2502. The user device 106 or the application processor 124 then creates a simplified Voronoi diagram or another approximate medial-axis transform (such as one generally free of large elongation or bifurcation artifacts) based on such boundaries as indicated by block 2504.

The user device 106 or the application processor 124 then computes a shortest path between the two points in the indoor area as indicated by block 2506. This is done by executing blocks 2507 through 2512 as indicated by their indented presence beneath block 2506. More specifically, the user device 106 or the application processor 124 first labels the simplified Voronoi diagram as a graph with locations where multiple branches connect (labeled as nodes) as indicated by block 2507. The user device 106 or the application processor 124 next determines closest corresponding points that are on the simplified Voronoi diagram (also referred to as the potential moving routes 2302) for both given points A and B and label those points on the related created graph as nodes A and B respectively as indicated by block 2508. Then, as indicated by block 2510, the user device 106 or the application processor 124 then uses the constructed graph to perform a uniform-cost-search starting from node A to determine a shortest path to node B where weights in the graph were previously assigned based on the length of portions of the Voronoi diagram related to portions of the graph. It should be noted that a uniform cost search algorithm is an algorithm commonly known to skilled artisans. Lastly, as indicated by block 2512, the shortest travel distance may then be reported as the sum of the weights in the graph along the path found in block 2510.

FIG. 26 shows a process 2600 that creates a navigational route that yields a shortest travel route for a user by computing walking distance for all possible sequencings of items on a user's list. This process 2600 makes use of the process described in conjunction with FIG. 25, as indicated by block 2612 where the means for computing the shortest travel distance between a pair of items can be the means depicted in FIG. 25. It can also be further clarified that block 2608 computes all possible sequencings by iteratively organizing items in every possible ordering. For example, if a list has three items labeled P, Q, and R, this list would have 6 possible sequencings including: PQR, PRQ, QPR, QRP, RPQ, RQP. After determining the sequencing with the lowest cost as indicated by blocks 2602 to 2614, the user device 106 may then calculate the preferred route based on that sequencing and the shortest paths between adjacent pairs of items in that sequencing such that an optimal navigation route 2006 may be displayed, for example, as shown in FIG. 24.

FIG. 27 generally shows a flowchart of a process 2700 that is a possible substitution for block 2608 in FIG. 26 that reduces a number of sequences that need to be evaluated. As the list of items becomes larger, for example, if a user has more than 100 items on a list, the number of possible sequencings of that list becomes exponentially larger. Because of this, the practicality of evaluating all possible sequencings of a list to determine an optimal sequence becomes more difficult. To address this issue, potential moving routes 2302 are broken down into zones (see example 2307) and branches (see example 2304). This enables the user device 106 or the location processor 104 to group various items from a list together based on their presence along a same branch and same zone which effectively enables further simplification of the problem of deriving an overall preferred sequence of items.

For example, it may be found that on a user's list of six items, three of the items (e.g. items T, U, and V) are located along a branch 2304. If a user moves along the branch in one direction, the user will encounter the items in the order of UVT and if the user moves along the branch from the opposite direction the user will encounter the items in the order of TVU. In this case, these would be the “forward” and “reverse” sub-sequencings referred to in blocks 2306 and 2307 respectively. Because the user device 106 or the location processor 104 is only dealing with two sub-sequencings of three items the process 2700 has substantially reduced the number of overall sequencings needed to be evaluated. Thus, using this type of partitioning of the potential moving routes 2302 within an indoor space shown in the flowchart of FIG. 27 enables a much smaller number of sequencings to be generated, thereby replacing step 2608 of FIG. 26 such that far fewer sequencings are evaluated more quickly to determine a preferred sequencing with low cost at block 2616.

FIG. 28 generally shows a flowchart of a process 2800 for a user to register and use the user device 106, the display device 107, and the input device 112 of FIG. 13. The process 2800 begins when a user creates a profile or account via the user device 106 and the input device 112 as indicated by block 2802. In other embodiments, the user can create an account via a website or at a registration area of an indoor area.

After receiving registration information for a user, the user device 106 receives a shopping list as indicated by block 2804. In one embodiment, the user device 106 receives the shopping list by the user using the virtual keyboard 1402 via the touchscreen 1302. In one instance, the user enters names of desired products into the virtual keyboard 1402 as indicated by block 2806. In another instance the user uses the search box 1404 to search for products and select products returned from the search as indicated by block 2808. In another embodiment, the user uses the scanner 1304 or camera 1306 to record the shopping list as indicated by block 2810. Alternatively, the user uses the scanner 1304 or camera 1306 to scan coupons of desired products.

In another embodiment, the user accesses a shopping history (such as a previous shopping list) stored in the user device 106 or in the location processor 104 as indicated by block 2812. Alternatively, the user device 106 or the location processor 104 can recommend products based on the user's shopping history. In a further embodiment, the user device 106 or the location processor 104 recalls a shopping list after the user enters an account number via the touchscreen 1302 or swipes a membership card along the peripheral device 1308 as indicated by block 2814. After receiving the shopping list, the user device 106 or the location processor 104 determines a route through the indoor area based on a current position of the moveable object as indicated by block 2816. The user device 106 then causes the display device 107 to display the current location 2002, the navigational route 2006, and the turn-by-turn directions 2008 in the graphical representation 2004 of the indoor area. In this manner, the indoor navigation system 100 accurately and precisely displays to a user a current location of the moveable object 102 in an indoor area.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention, and it is understood that this application is to be limited only by the scope of the claims. 

1. A method of operating an indoor navigation system, the method comprising: causing a processor to: (a) receive an absolute positioning signal generated by an absolute position sensor after the absolute position sensor detects a moveable object is in proximity with an absolute position transmitter, the absolute position transmitter being associated with a unique identifier; (b) identify the identifier within the absolute positioning signal; (c) determine a reference location associated with the identifier by identifying where in an indoor area the identifier is specified to be located; (d) receive a dead-reckoning signal generated by a dead-reckoning sensor coupled to the moveable object after the dead-reckoning sensor detects movement of the moveable object; (e) determine a direction and a magnitude of the movement; (f) calculate a current location of the moveable object in the indoor area based on the direction and magnitude of the movement in relation to the reference location; and (g) transmit to a user device at least one of: (i) a message indicative of the current location of the moveable object causing the user device to display the current location of the moveable object in relation to a graphical representation of the indoor area; and (ii) a message indicative of directions to an item-of-interest in the indoor area causing the user device to display the current location of the moveable object and directions to the item-of-interest in relation to the graphical representation.
 2. (canceled)
 3. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to display the current location of the moveable object by displaying a marker representative of the moveable object at a point corresponding to an actual location of the moveable object in the indoor area.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the moveable object is a grocery cart.
 5. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to receive the absolute positioning signal indicative of the absolute position sensor receiving a radio frequency identifier (“RFID”) response signal from the absolute position transmitter.
 6. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to receive the absolute positioning signal indicative of the absolute position sensor receiving an RFID beacon signal from the absolute position transmitter.
 7. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to receive the absolute positioning signal indicative of the absolute position sensor receiving a laser light signal from the absolute position transmitter.
 8. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to: (i) receive a point-of-interest located within the indoor area; (ii) determine a point-of-interest location of the point-of-interest in the indoor area; (iii) determine a route to the point-of-interest location from the current location; and (iv) transmit to the user device a message indicative of the route and the point-of-interest location causing the user device to display the route to the point-of-interest location in relation to the graphical representation of the indoor area.
 9. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to: (i) receive a second dead-reckoning signal after the dead-reckoning sensor detects a second movement of the moveable object; (ii) determine a second direction and a second magnitude of the second movement; (iii) calculate a new current location of the moveable object in the indoor area based on the second direction and second magnitude of the second movement in relation to the current location; and (iv) transmit to the user device a message indicative of the new current location of the moveable object causing the user device to display the new current location of the moveable object in relation to the graphical representation of the indoor area.
 10. The method of claim 1, which includes causing the processor to: (i) after calculating the current location of the moveable device, compare the current location to a location rule; (ii) determine the current location violates the location rule; (iii) adjust the current location of the moveable device so that the adjusted current location does not violate the location rule; and (iv) transmit to the user device a message indicative of the adjusted current location of the moveable object causing the user device to display the adjusted current location of the moveable object in relation to the graphical representation of the indoor area.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the dead-reckoning sensor detects the movement of the moveable object by detecting differential movement of one or more wheels.
 12. An apparatus comprising: an absolute position sensor coupled to a moveable object and configured to: detect that an absolute position transmitter is in proximity to the absolute position sensor; and transmit to a processor an absolute positioning signal including a unique identifier identifying an absolute position of the moveable object; and a dead-reckoning sensor coupled to the moveable object and configured to: determine an amount of movement of the moveable object by sensing movement of the moveable object; and transmit to the processor a dead-reckoning signal indicative of the determined amount of movement.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the absolute position sensor includes a light sensor and the absolute positioning transmitter includes a light emitting device.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the absolute position sensor detects that the absolute position transmitter is in proximity by receiving light emitted by the absolute position transmitter, the light being pulsed by the absolute position transmitter to provide the unique identifier.
 15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the dead-reckoning sensor includes a rotary encoder that determines the amount of movement based on a rotation of a wheel of the moveable object.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a second dead-reckoning sensor coupled to a second wheel of the moveable object and configured to: determine an amount of movement based on a rotation of the second wheel; and transmit to the processor a second dead-reckoning signal indicative of the determined amount of movement of the second wheel causing the processor to determine an orientation of the moveable object by comparing the dead-reckoning signal with the second dead-reckoning signal.
 17. A machine-accessible device having instructions stored thereon that are configured when executed to cause a machine to at least: receive a message indicative of a current location of a moveable object within an indoor area, the current location being based upon: i) an absolute positioning signal generated by an absolute position sensor after the absolute position sensor detects the moveable object is in proximity with an absolute position transmitter, and ii) a dead-reckoning signal generated by a dead-reckoning sensor coupled to the moveable object after the dead-reckoning sensor detects movement of the moveable object; determine a relation of the current location to a graphical representation of the indoor area; and display the current location in relation to the graphical representation of the indoor area.
 18. The machine-accessible device of claim 17, further comprising instructions stored thereon that are configured when executed to cause a machine to at least: receive a list of items; determine a location for each of the items within the indoor area; determine a route to the items from the current location; display each of the locations of the items on the graphical representation; and display the route on the graphical representation.
 19. The machine-accessible device of claim 18, further comprising instructions stored thereon that are configured when executed to cause a machine to at least determine the route by calculating a shortest path between each of the items and a shortest path between the items and the current location.
 20. The machine-accessible device of claim 18, further comprising instructions stored thereon that are configured when executed to cause a machine to at least provide turn-by-turn directions to the items as the moveable object is moved within the indoor area.
 21. The machine-accessible device of claim 18, further comprising instructions stored thereon that are configured when executed to cause a machine to at least: detect one of the items has been placed within the moveable object; update the route to remove the detected item from the route; and display the updated route on the graphical representation including directions to another item. 